1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS - 8-Sec SS

Yes, this street legal Camaro SS is the real deal.

Editor's Note: Posted on Super Chevy's Facebook page last year was a photo of Greg Wong's 100-percent street legal, mid-8-second '68 Camaro SS, which proved to be one of SCM's most viewed posts to that point, with 436 Shares and 566 “Likes.” Reader response ran the gamut from total skepticism to absolute delight, and we promised a follow-up article on this totally awesome Gen 1 Camaro from the Big Island of Hawaii in an upcoming issue. Here it is.

Greg Wong and his Matador Red, nitrous assisted 568cid '68 Camaro SS have been the scourge of IHRA-sanctioned Hilo Raceway Park's Street Class, repeatedly lowering the record to where it now stands at 8.56/162.75. We're talking about an all-steel, 3,750-pound stock bodied car (with driver) complete with power windows, full interior, and AM radio. And it does it all using a relatively small 29.5/10.5x15-inch tire.

Wong and his Camaro have been together since he graduated from high school. Over the years, the 1968 has progressed from street car to all-out track terror, and is of this writing the fastest and quickest street legal car in the 50th state. Obviously, it takes a lot of horsepower to produce that kind of performance, and Wong gets it from a Paul Klyczek Racing Engines-built Dart Big M big-block, dyno-tested at 1,040 hp at 7,000 rpm, and 860 lb-ft of torque at 5,500—and that's without the introduction of the 175hp Steve Johnson/Induction Solutions single stage fogger nitrous system.

Internally, Wong's KPRE big-block is equipped with a Callies stroker crank riding on Cleveite engine bearings. A set of Callies Ultra H-Beam connecting rods and Diamond Racing pistons complete the rotating assembly. Cam choice is a PKRE design Comp Cams proprietary nitrous grind. Bolted up top is a set of PKRE-prepared Edelbrock Victor 24-degree aluminum cylinder heads, sporting a set 2.2550-inch stainless-steel intake and 1.880-inch exhaust valves, with a set of Jesel Components shaft rocker arms. Induction is handled by a Holley Pro Dominator tunnel ram intake sporting twin 4500 Holley Dominator carburetors. The aforementioned nitrous system operates in concert with a Magna Fuel, Inc./Induction Solutions fuel delivery system. Other items include an MSD ignition, GZ Motorsports engine pulleys and vacuum pump, a CSI electric water pump, Moroso solid motor mounts, and 2-1/8-inch custom headers flowing into 4-inch Flowmaster street mufflers. Backing all this up is a Lenco CS1 four-speed planetary-gear transmission. For second gear launches off the line at 5,000 rpm, a Tim Hyatt Racing double-disc clutch is contained in a Lakewood Industries bellhousing.

Greg's brother Royden Wong (who also races a pretty mean small-block '68 Camaro of his own) prepared the chassis, notching the rear frame rails and installing mini tubs. Then came the installation of Vari-Shock double-adjustable shocks, and a Cal Trac Split Mono Leaf-suspended, 3.89:1 geared Strange Engineering Ultra-equipped Fab-9 sheetmetal rear axle housing outfitted with Wilwood disc brakes. The final link in the Camaro's powertrain is a 38-inch Mark Williams aluminum driveshaft. Rear wheels consist of a set of 15x10-inch alloys for the street, and 15x12-inch two-piece modular Weld Aluma Star's for the track, running M/T street and strip rubber. Up front, the '68 incorporates TRZ Motorsports tubular front control arms and TRZ rack and pinion steering. The front shocks are QA1 double-adjustable units, with stopping power provided by Wilwood, and a pair of 15x4-inch Weld Racing eight-spoke wheels roll on P315/60x15-inch BFGoodrich high performance street radial rubber.

Herman Ludwigs picked up where his good buddy couldn't and delivered this stunning silver and orange 1955 Chevy 210 sedan with a killer Ramjet 502 engine. Only at www.superchevy.com, the official website for Super Chevy Magazine. » Read More